Beechwood falls in ‘A’ state finals

Published 5:55 am Friday, December 4, 2015

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Daric Pugh rushed for 239 yards on 24 carries and Pikeville scored four second-half touchdowns to top Beechwood 42-28 Thursday night in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 1A championship.

Pugh had touchdown runs of 54 and 49 yards in the fourth quarter for Pikeville (13-2), which won its fourth state championship and first since 1989.

Pikeville built a 14-0 first quarter lead, but Beachwood scored just before halftime and twice in the third quarter to take a 21-14 lead. Brett Slusher scored all three of the Tigers’ touchdowns in that span on a four-yard pass, a one-yard run and a three-yard run.

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On the final play of the third quarter, the Panthers tied the game on 67-yard touchdown pass to Blake Charles.

On their next possession, Pugh’s first touchdown with 8:54 to play gave the Panthers the lead back for good. Charles added a 29-yard touchdown run that made the score 35-21 and Pugh closed out Pikeville’s scoring with his second touchdown.

Beechwood quarterback Kyle Fieger was 21-of-32 for 173 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.

Slusher — the wide receiver turned running due to an injury to leading rusher Ethan Stringer — ran 16 times for 78 yards for the Tigers who had 147 yards on 37 tries as a team.

Beachwood (13-2) was looking for its 12th state championship and first since 2008.